Producers of the only known script written by rap legend Tupac Shakur are looking to cast Derek Luke (Friday Night Lights) or Rob Brown (Coach Carter) to play the role that Pac originally wrote for himself.
Live 2 Tell was written in 1995 when Shakur was serving time in jail. The film is about an African American teenager from the projects who becomes a drug lord before turning his life around.
“It’s tough because it’s kind of a gritty role, but at the same time, it’s a really educated role, so it’s going to take a good actor,” said co-producer Jeff Bowler, of Insomnia Media Group (IMG), in an interview with MTV. “I’m not saying those are the guys, but we definitely like those guys.”
Since the movie was announced Tuesday, Bowler and partner Bret Saxon have been inundated with calls and emails regarding the movie roles, and the pair have stated that unknowns will be considered.
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“I received over 50 emails from actors, aspiring rappers, Broadway actors, from across the world waiting to send their music and head shot to me because Tupac had such an influence on their lives,”Bowler said. “It’s crazy how big Pac’s legacy lives on today.”
Even bigger names are being mentioned for the movie’s other starring role, that of the mentor.
“It’s the mentor role, who takes this guy under his wing and makes him this kind of drug kingpin. We like someone like Jamie Foxx or even Will Smith, who’s never played [a role like that], he’s always played the good guy,”Bowler revealed. “This will be a really tough role for anybody, but I think we’ll definitely cast a pretty big name. But there’s a lot of great roles and I’m sure there are a lot of great young rappers out there that will probably fill this ensemble. You’ve got white drug dealers and gangsters; you’ve got Spanish, you’ve got Black, you’ve got Asians in this.”
Bowler also mentioned the producers’ importance of doing justice to Pac’s words.
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“We’re absolutely honored,” he said. “I’m in my 30s, so I grew up listening to Tupac — I grew up on a farm in New England and his music transcended all the way out to there. So it’s definitely global.”
IMG is looking to start shooting in March 2006.
